Submitted by Michael Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg blog [5],
Washington state has led the way in many respects when it comes to the drone issue, something I highlighted recently in my article: Just Say NO: Seattle Residents Kill the City’s Drone Program [6]. It’s not just Seattle though, there is a bi-partisan bill in the Washington state legislature, H.B. 1771, which limits drone use within the entire state. The bill has already passed its House Committee hearing and, as expected, the state’s corporate overlords have started to fight back. Specifically, Boeing. From the Examiner:
A bi-partisan bill to limit drone use within Washington state is meeting resistance from the aerospace and defense corporation Boeing.
Just last month, H.B. 1771, a bill to put limits on government drone use within Washington state, passed its House Committee hearing. The bill establishes guidelines and standards for the use of drones by public entities to protect the privacy rights of Washington residents.
“This bill quite simply provides protection to the citizens of Washington state from warrantless surveillance. That’s our intent here. To start a conversation and say if these things are going to be used, you will protect the constitutional rights of the citizens,” said Rep. David Taylor (R), the bill’s primary sponsor.
Now with the bill on the Floor Calendar, afterfailed attempts to stop it from police and a drone lobbyist, Representatives Taylor and co-sponsor Matt Shea (R) have confirmed Boeing’s efforts and indicated they have met with a Boeing lobbyist to discuss their concerns.
“One of the aspects Boeing is opposed to is legislative oversight at the local level,” Rep. Taylor said.
There you have it folks. Boeing does not believe the people of Washington state should have any say about how things are done in, well, Washington state.
Rep. David Taylor (R), the bill’s primary sponsor, and all the others supporting it deserve our full support. You can email David at: david.taylor@leg.wa.gov [7]
Full article here [8].